Abstract
In this paper, we report the synthesis of perfluoro(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroanilinium sulfate) (PF(TFA-H)) from Nafion™ via a free-radical desulfur coupling reaction, which utilizes TFA-H as an alternative proton-exchange group. The PF(TFA-H) membrane was found to have an improved mechanical strength over a similar recast Nafion™ film. More importantly, PF(TFA-H) exhibits better proton conductivities over Nafion™ at a temperature near or above the boiling point of water. At 100 °C at gas phase, PF(TFA-H) and recast Nafion™ films show an ionic conductivity of 157 and 147 mS/cm, respectively; at 120 °C, PF(TFA-H) exhibits an ionic conductivity of 174 mS/cm while the recast Nafion™ has a value of 161 mS/cm. This probably is due to the fact that the TFA-H salt has stronger affinity towards water molecules than –SO3H. As a result, a PF(TFA-H) thin film is better humidified than Nafion™ by retaining more water molecules inside the membrane, especially at a temperature of 100 °C or higher. At 120 °C, a 5 cm2 H2-air fuel cell fixture that uses the PF(TFA-H) membrane delivers a maximum power output of 365 mW/cm2 at a current of 625 mA/cm2 while the similar one employing a recast Nafion™ thin film gives rise to a maximum power density of 290 mW/cm2 at a current density of 475 mA/cm2.
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